The Renewed Hope Ambassador Coordinator for President Bola Tinubu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido, has described the President’s administration as a blessing to Abuja, saying it has brought governance and democratic dividends closer to indigenous people and other residents.
Candido made the declaration at the FCT Stakeholders Assembly’s endorsement ceremony in Abuja, where he praised the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for translating the administration’s development agenda into projects and policies across the territory.
The gathering brought together traditional rulers, political leaders, area council chairmen, indigenous communities and residents, who endorsed Tinubu for a second term, alongside Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda for the FCT senatorial seat, Hon. John Gabaya for Abuja North Federal Constituency and former Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya, for Abuja South Federal Constituency.
Describing Wike’s appointment as a turning point in the administration of the FCT, Candido said successive governments had not brought governance as close to the people as the present administration.
“Your coming to Abuja remains a blessing to the good people of the Federal Capital Territory. Some of us have seen successive administrations in Abuja, but we have never seen an administration that provided democratic dividends and brought government so close to the people as the administration of Mr President through you, the Minister,” he said.
He urged residents not to take the administration’s interventions for granted, insisting that the territory had witnessed considerable attention under Tinubu’s government.
“We have never had it so good. We will continue to add our voices to ensure that we do not become ingrates in Abuja, because this administration has done everything for us,” he said.
Candido said indigenous communities, including the Gbagyi, Gana-Gana, Ibira, Koro, Gade and Bassa, were beginning to enjoy a greater sense of representation in governance.
He said the administration’s interventions had given indigenous people a stronger feeling that their aspirations and interests were being recognised.
The former AMAC chairman, however, expressed concern over what he described as the failure of some politicians to acknowledge the administration’s contributions to the FCT, urging residents to put the collective interest of the territory above partisan considerations.
Referring to an incident at Barnex Plaza in Abuja, Candido questioned why some residents would oppose government activities in the territory because of political affiliations, despite benefiting from its development initiatives.
He also urged Wike and other political stakeholders to identify genuine supporters and distinguish them from those he described as pretenders.
“Some politicians can be very dishonest. What they say is not exactly what is in them. We have pretenders, and we have to speak out so that we can identify those who are truly working with and supporting you, and those who are behind the scenes trying to do the untoward,” he said.
On the FCT senatorial contest, Candido described Aduda as the best senator the territory had produced, citing his record in office.
“Senator Aduda will go into history as the best senator ever produced in the Federal Capital Territory. We had resident senators and indigenous senators in the past; their records are there. Senator Philip Aduda’s record is here, and everybody can see it,” he said.
He called on residents, particularly those who had benefited from the administration’s interventions, to demonstrate their support through active participation in the political process.
“This is the only opportunity that we have, and we should never play with it. We will never allow this government to go without our support. We need to support this administration 100 per cent,” he added.
Candido said he had toured the FCT’s 17 graded chiefdoms as Renewed Hope Ambassador Coordinator and noted that traditional rulers had witnessed Wike’s development initiatives.
He, however, urged the minister to sustain inclusive governance by ensuring adequate representation for the nine traditional chiefdoms and Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds residing in the territory.
According to him, every community should have a sense of belonging, irrespective of whether its members are indigenous or non-indigenous residents.
Recalling his tenure as chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Candido said he deliberately promoted ethnic balance in appointments to key positions.
He disclosed that his first vice-chairman was an Igbo man, his council secretary during his first term was Hausa, while a Yoruba person occupied the position during his second term.
“I believe in inclusivity. I made sure that among the cabinet, we had representation from every shade of opinion and background,” he said.
Candido urged Wike to sustain the approach by ensuring that Nigerians from different ethnic groups living in Abuja were represented in the administration, while the nine traditional chiefdoms received due recognition.
He expressed confidence in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections and pledged the support of the Renewed Hope movement for Tinubu’s re-election.
“By the grace of God, APC is going to win this election 100 per cent, and we are not going to regret it,” he said.
